'There is never a good way of doing needless things.' 'No. But hardly anything at this moment could have given me equal satisfaction. The way is cleared for me to work without hindrance. I'll plant the banks with wych hazel!' 'You will have a grand clearing away again, if you do. Then you really are glad, Mr. Rollo?' 'You do not mean to say that you will pull up what I plant?' 'I said _you_ would. See,' she said, not ready for repartee or discussion or much of anything else to-night, 'you have cut short your allowance of sugar, and quite prevented the cream. Give me the sugar tongs, please.' Divining that it was in some sort a help to her, he quietly let her have her way; and did not tell her how fully creamed and sugared he tasted his cup to be that night. 'I have learnt a lesson,' he drily said after he had watched her. 'Whenever I want to give you anything, I shall know henceforth that you would like nothing so well as power.' She smiled a little bit, looking down at her folded hands, but she did not say a word. And Dane drank his coffee, for form's sake, without knowing whether there was either sugar or cream in it. And then he took Wych Hazel away from the table, and talked of things as far as possible from weddings and journeyings; till Arthur came again. Dr. Arthur did not come in. But when his friend, in obedience to the summons, had reached the door of the red room, his progress was stayed. 'Mr. Rollo,'—came falteringly from the grave figure he had left standing by the fire,—'could you stop one minute?' It is needless to say that Rollo's steps paused and came back instantly. 'Nobody to speak but me,— nobody to consult but him!' the girl thought as he approached her. It was rather hard, just now. But things had to be done. 'I will not detain you,' she said, hesitating over her words,—'not long,—but you did not tell me—will you tell me—how much time I have?' As gently as if it had been her mother's, Rollo's arm came round her. 'Just as much time as you choose!' he answered. 'I must go to New York the day after Christmas,—that is, Friday; but the times that concern you are in your own hand. I was going to write you a note to-morrow, to ask you about it. Supposing that you go with me, we must be married either Friday morning, before we set out; or Christmas evening. I must be all Christmas day busy in the Hollow; but I could be here by five o'clock. What would you like best?' Hard to say!— 'The Marylands were coming here to spend Christmas,' said Hazel,—'and they were so pleased—I do not like to forbid them. So it cannot be Thursday. How early Friday?' 'Six miles to drive to the station, and must take the morning train. It's not quite an "owl train"—but comes along. I believe, by eight o'clock. Why Hazel, if the Marylands will be all here Christmas, that will just fit.'